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Jeremiah Smith delivers game-tying TD for Ohio State in The Game

Cory Nightingale

By Cory Nightingale

Published:

Jeremiah Smith has had a record-breaking freshman season for Ohio State, but Saturday in Columbus was a different animal.

It was The Game, and Smith’s first opportunity to show that he could come up big against the Buckeyes’ biggest rival, with the biggest stakes possible.

With Ohio State facing a surprising 10-3 deficit late in the first half, Smith did just that. The Buckeyes were driving and trying to even the score before halftime. It would be sort of a reset after an uneven first half against a Michigan team trying to ruin Ohio State’s College Football Playoff dreams.

First, Smith made a difference with his presence alone with 35 seconds left in the half. On a 2nd-and-8 from the Michigan 25-yard line, quarterback Will Howard looked for Smith in the end zone. For the 2nd time in the first half, Smith drew a pass interference penalty, setting the Buckeyes up at the Wolverines’ 10-yard line.

And on the very next play, Smith once again made a difference with his play-making ability. He was wide open on the right side of the end zone, and Howard easily found him for a touchdown that tied the game with 30 seconds left before halftime.

It was Smith’s 10th touchdown catch of the season but his first in 3 weeks. He had 4 catches for 32 yards in the first half, and that TD grab that just might have changed the momentum of The Game.

Cory Nightingale